asked the Minister for Health the number of people over the age of 65 catered for by (a) the meals on wheels service (b) home help services; and the percentage of all people over 65 years of age these figures represent.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Meals on Wheels Service.
26.
Approximately 7,200 people over the age of 65 are catered for by meals on wheels services; 4,700 are catered for by the home help services. These represent 2.1 per cent and 1.4 per cent respectively of the total number of people over the age of 65. In this connection, I might mention that the Health Education Bureau will later this year promote a national campaign which will focus on the special needs of the elderly. It will advise on the ways in which the elderly can best maintain their own health and will try to increase public awareness of the ways in which the elderly can be helped by other members of the community.